Georgia Senate Passes Three Marijuana Bills Ahead of Crossover Deadline
In a significant development, the Georgia Senate has passed three bills related to marijuana, just ahead of the deadline to keep them in play for this legislative session. The bills aim to expand access to medical marijuana, regulate the sale of intoxicating cannabinoids, and ban the sale of beverages containing THC.
One bill, sponsored by Senator Matt Brass, seeks to increase the allowed concentration of cannabidiol (CBD) in medical cannabis from 5% to 50%, while reducing the amount of medical cannabis one can legally possess from 4 ounces to 2 ounces. The bill also adds cancer and Lupus to the list of conditions for which medical cannabis can be prescribed, and allows pharmacies to dispense medical cannabis to parents and designated caregivers.
The bill faced opposition from some Republicans, who expressed concerns about the health effects of vaping and the potential for increased THC levels to lead to intoxication. However, it ultimately passed with the support of Democrats, 39-17.
A second bill, sponsored by Senator Kay Kirkpatrick, aims to regulate the sale of intoxicating cannabinoids, such as Delta-8 and Delta-10, at convenience stores and smoke shops. The bill would add these substances to the current cap on THC concentration and require random state inspections of consumable hemp products. Kirkpatrick, an orthopedic hand surgeon, argued that the bill would increase consumer safety by preventing the sale of contaminated products.
The third bill, which was amended on the Senate floor, bans the sale of all beverages containing THC. The bill originally aimed to limit the amount of THC in consumable hemp products, but the amendment introduced a ban on THC-containing beverages. The bill passed with a majority vote, 42-14.
All three bills are now awaiting action by the state House of Representatives, which has until April 4 to act on them during this legislative session.
